High-density attachment for compresses for cotton bales



Feb. 19, 1929.

, J. H. MNLEAN ET AL axon nsusrn AT'IAOBIBN! m COIPRBSSSS 'ron com-on muss Filed Sept. 16, 1925 Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. MAGLEAN, ALF-0RD. C. BABROWS, AND GEORGE W. LANGFORD, OF ANN ARBOR,

MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS TO ECONOMY BALERl COMPANY, OF ANN ARBOR, MICHI- GAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

HIGH-DENSITY ATTACHMENT r03 comranssns ron common BALns.

Application filed September 16, 1925. Serial No. 56,752.

' The invention relates to high density attachments for compresses for cotton bales and has for one ofits objects the provision of a high density attachment which is actuated from. the movable laten of the compress. Another object is t e provisionof a high density attachment including a pivotal side platen which is swung from inoperative to operative positions by means of the movable platen of the compress. A further object is the provision of means for moving a side platen of the high'density attachment from inoperative to operative positions during the compression movement 0 the movable platen of the compress and for releasing the side platen prior to the completion of the compression movement of the movable platen-to p allow the side platen to return to inoperative position.

With these as well as other objects in view the invention resides in the novel features of construction as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a compress for cotton bales having applied thereto a high density attachment em dying my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional end elevation thereof' l1igure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the high densit attachment.

The compress for cotton ales has the vertical frame 1,"which extends below the floor level intothe pit 2. 3 is the upper platen whichis stationary and fixedly secured to the frame 1 and4 the lower platen which is vertically recip-rocable from a position slightly below the floor level to a position near the upper platen. The lower platenis fixedly secured upon'the saddle 5, which is guided by the frame 1 and is vertically reciprocated by suitable means, including the toggle levers 6 which are connected at their lower ends to the opposite ends of the saddle and at their upper ends to the frame and are actuatedby means of the pitman rods 7. These rods are connected to the gears 8 forming part of the reduction gearing 9.

The high density attachment comprises the side platens 10 at the opposite sides of the compress and adapted to be moved from inwill be described in detail.

operative to operative positions upon movement of the lower platen 4 of the compress. The side platens and their actuating mechanism are exactly the same and therefore but one side platen and its actuating mechanism The side platen 10 is pivotally mounted upon. the frame 1 of the compress at a point substantially below the floor level by means of the ivot 11. In its inoperative position the si e laten lies substantially below the floor leve 5 while in its operative position the side platen extends vertically at the side of the compress to form a side wall of the balingschamber. To swing the side platen upwardly and inwardly from inoperative to o erative positions prior to the completionoi the compression stroke of the lower platen 4, we have provided the projection 12 extending laterally from the saddle 5 and preferably in the nature of a roller 13 journaled upon the bracket 14. We have also provided the sectional tracks 15 upon the side platen and extending longitudinally thereof and beyond its edges for engagement 'by'the roller 13 during the compression stroke of the lower platen. Thesetracks are laterally offset so that during the initial compression stroke of the lower platen and substantially prior to the time that the cotton bale is compressed between the lower platen and the up per platen the side platen is swung to operaltjive'position to laterally compress the cotton ale; To permit tying or banding the compressed cotton bale when the lower platen of the compress is in its uppermost position we have provided means for releasing the side platen prior tothe completion of the compression stroke of the lower platen. As specifically shown, each track 15' has a length such that when "the ,side'platen is in operative position the track terminates below the'roller 13 when in the uppermost position of the lower platen,

so that the side platen is released just prior to V the completion of the compression stroke of to include the pivotal dogs 17 pivoted at 18 upon the sideplaten and adapted to swing downwardly and outwardly when the roller 13 engages their upper sides to allow this rol er to pass therethrough. These dogs are normally held in operative position by suitable means such as the springs 19 which after the downward movement of the roller return the dogs to positions to be engaged by the roller when the lower platen is next raised. Also these dogs are suitably held from swinging upwardly above operative position by means of the lateral projections 20 upon the body 21 which supports each track upon the side platen. I

7 From the above description it will be readily seen that we have provided an improved construction of high density attachment for compresses for cotton bales in which the side platens of the high density attachment are actuated by a very simple mechanism. It will also be seen that the arrangement is such that the side platens oi the high density attachment are swung from inoperative to operative positions during the compression stroke of the movable platen of the compress and re leased prior to the completion of this compression stroke so that they may return to inoperative positions and provide access for tying or banding the compressed cotton bale. It will be further seen that the movable platen of the compress controls the movement ol the side platens of the high density attachment. The side platens are so arranged relative to the pivotal floor sections that when the former are swung upwardly and inwardly of their operative positions they swing the pivotal floor sections upwardly and outwardly to move a person or truck upon these floor sections away from the compress.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. The combination with a compress for cotton bales including aplatcn and a second platen movable toward said first-mentioned platen, of a high density attachment including a side platen and means for actuating said side platen from said movable platen.

2. The combination with a compress for cotton bales including a platen and a second platen reciprocable toward and away from said first-mentioned platen of a high density attachment including a side platen and means connected to and movable with said reciprocable platen for moving said side platen from inoperative to operative positions during the compression stroke of said reciprocable platen.

3. The combination with a compress for cotton bales including a platen and a second platen movable toward said firs mentioned platen of a high density attachment including a pivotal side platen arranged to swing from inoperative to operative positions and means upon said first mentioned platen and dependent upon movement thereof for swinging said side platen from inoperative to operative positions.

ll. The combination with a compress for cotton bales including a platen and a second platen movable toward said first-mentioned platen, of a high density attachment includ ing a side platen movable from inoperative to operative positions and aproj ection upon said first mentioned. platen and engageable with said first mentioned side platen to move the same from inoperative to operative positions.

5. The combination with a compress for cotton bales including a movable platen, of a high density attachment including a side platen and means for moving said side platen from said first mentioned platen from inoperative to operative positions during the compression movement of said first mentioned platen and releasingsaid side platen prior. to the completion of said compression movement.

6. The combination with a compress for cotton bales including a reciprocable platen, oi a high density attachment includmg aside platen movable from inoperative to operative positions and a projection upon said first mentioned platen and engageable with said side platen to move the same from inoperative operative positions during the compression stroke of said first mentioned platen, said projection being disengaged from said side platen prior to the completion of said compression stroke to release said side platen.

7.. The combinationwith a compress for cotton bales including a reciprocable platen, of a high density attachment including a side platen movable from inoperative to operative positions and provided with a track and a project-ion upon said first mentioned platen engageable with said track to move said side platen from inoperative to operative 'posi tions during the compression stroke of said first mentioned platen, said projection being disengageable from said track prior to the completionof said compression stroke to release said-side platen, and said side platen upon release being movable to inoperative position under the influence of gravity.

8. The combination with a compress for cotton bales including a movable platen, of a high density attachment including a side platen and means for moving said side platen frominoperative to operative positions during the compression movement of said first mentioned, platen and releasing said side platen prior to the completion of said compression movement to allow the same to re turn to inoperative position.

9. The combination with a compress for cotton bales, including a movable platen, of a high density attachment including a side platen, means for actuating said side platen latter is in inoperative position anderigageable by said side platen upon movement of inoperative to operative positions and for 1 the latter by said movable platen to swing releasingthe said platen prior to the completion of the compression movement.

said floor section'away from said compress.

10. The combination with a compress for cotton bales including a platen and a second platen movable toward said first mentioned platen, a high density attachment including a side platen and means for actuating said side platen from said movable platen from tures.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signa- JOHN H. MACLEAN. ALFORD o. BARROWS.

GEORGE W. LANGFORD. 

